Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Leeds retains
£130/month more than in Glasgow —
that's £1,560/year extra in purchasing power.
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£40,000
Net monthly
£2,683
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
34% — Stretched
After rent
£1,783
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£42,000
Net monthly
£2,813
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
32% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,913
Glasgow vs Leeds: what the £130/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Glasgow accountant (qualified) roles pay £2,000/year
less than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Glasgow workers keep £2,683/month versus
£2,813/month in Leeds.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Glasgow rent runs £900/month
versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leeds workers have £1,913/month
disposable income versus £1,783/month in Glasgow —
that is £1,560/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 32%
compares favourably to Glasgow's 34%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Glasgow |
Leeds |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£900 |
0% |
| Transport |
£55 |
£65 |
+18% |
| Council tax |
£148 |
£112 |
-24% |
| Groceries |
£265 |
£270 |
+2% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,185 |
£1,331 |
+12% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 62 for Glasgow
and 66 for Leeds,
a salary of £40,000 in Glasgow delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £42,600 in Leeds.
Glasgow £40,000 ≈
£42,600
in Leeds
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Glasgow
£2.36
Leeds
£2.51
Transit (single trip)
Glasgow
£1.31
Leeds
£1.55
Gym membership
Glasgow
£34/mo
Leeds
£36/mo
Cinema ticket
Glasgow
£9.92
Leeds
£10.56
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Glasgow or Leeds?
+
Glasgow pays a median £40,000 vs £42,000 in Leeds
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £130/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Glasgow vs Leeds?
+
In Glasgow: gross £40,000 → £2,683/month net take-home.
In Leeds: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Glasgow leaves £1,783/month
vs Leeds's £1,913/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Glasgow purchasing power?
+
Approximately £42,600 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£40,000 in Glasgow, based on a cost-of-living index of
62 (Glasgow) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Glasgow or Leeds cheaper to live in?
+
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 66 for Leeds (London = 100).
Rent in Glasgow averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Leeds.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Glasgow?
+
A accountant (qualified) in Glasgow earning £40,000 takes home
£2,683/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 34%
(stretched).
In Leeds the equivalent ratio is 32%.